Positive Parenting Techniques

We all know reading is essential, but what do we do to facilitate this milestone as parents?

Reading to your child has many benefits, including simply having time to snuggle.

Here are ten reasons to read to your child.

1. When you read to your child, they will learn that reading is essential to you. Therefore, homework will be vital to them.

2. The more your child hears sounds, the better they will process them into words. When a child is in preschool/kindergarten, listening becomes the written word.

3. Reading has a calming effect on a restless or fussy baby. Who doesn't want an easy way to calm a fussy baby?

4. Reading is an excellent before-bed routine. Studies have shown that a child will thrive in an environment where methods are present.

5. Reading will help to develop your child's imagination. Have you ever gotten lost in a good book? Your child can do the same while you are reading to them.

6. Reading will foster your child's ability to listen and pay attention. It is an excellent way to avoid all the problems concerning attention spans.

7. Reading to a young child will teach them how to hold a book and turn the pages.

8. Reading to your baby will develop in them the desire to become a reader.

9. Teachers will thank you

10. When a child reads a personalized storybook, they will recognize their name in print early.

Isn't it exciting to think that you can affect your child's ability to readjust by reading to them? You can develop a lifelong joy of reading and learn in your child. W.O.W.! Just read.

Are you troubled by her son's disinterest in reading? Maybe you have a young child just learning to read. You try to encourage learning by reading together. However, each reading session is a struggle. Your child shuns it like a hated vegetable. Or maybe your child can already read but doesn't want to. They even tell you straight in your face, "I hate reading."

How did it come to this? Why does your child dislike reading? It comes down to one thing: the love for reading was never ignited or extinguished.

Here are eight ways to kill a child's love for reading:

1. Reading sessions are more like drilling sessions.

Don't quiz and test children when learning. It's ok to point things out and ask questions to promote thinking but make sure it stays F.U.N. Please don't turn it into a pressurized teaching session. Yes, you hope they learn something from the reading but don't make that your primary objective. Read to enjoy the story. Learning usually takes place when the teaching is not so obvious.

2. Television, video, and computer games

Take center stage for relaxation and entertainment. These strongly distract children from reading. There needs to be a limit to these activities if you want to convince them that books can be entertaining.

3. Reading books that are too difficult for their reading level.

It isn't very encouraging for children to open a book and not read many of the words. Where is the joy when you struggle to get through a page? Know your child's reading ability and get books appropriate to their level.

4. Reading sessions turn into screaming and put-down sessions.

Parents need to hold realistic expectations of their children. Control frustrations when children don't excel as fast as you wish they would. Watch your tongue and avoid derogatory remarks such as "Can't you remember that word? We just read it," or "I've told you many times already. What's wrong with you?"

5. Read books that are of no interest to them?

How do children regard these books? BORING! To a young boy, reading a book on dinosaurs may be more captivating than reading a book about Dick and Jane. Draw your teenagers into reading with readers so they can relate to their interests. At that age, I knew I was game for books on love, romance, and friendship. Capitalize on your child's hobbies and interests.

6. Forced reading for older children

Sometimes homework is in the form of assigned readings. Usually, a report has to hand in at the end. Although this got done with good intentions, it is easy for a child to regard reading as a chore. Likely, the assigned reading is not their choice and, therefore, not to their liking. Reading in this situation is like dragging feet through the mud.

7. Peer pressure.

It is another factor that affects older children. Kids can be cruel with their branding and teasing. The term "nerds" and "geeks" are usually thrown at those that indulge in books. Your child may very well choose to shun books just to fit in and be one of the "cool kids."

8. Limiting what children read.

Imagine if you loved sci-fi books, but they tell you could only read classics. What a damper that would be for you, right? Be open to what your child wants to know. Your child may have moved past picture books, but he wants them anyway. Let him. Or you may consider reading comic books have less educational value than reading famous novels. Remember, it's a book in their hands nonetheless. So, be supportive, whether fiction, non-fiction, picture books, comic books, magazines, etc.

You want to get your child reading; you must first show that it is enjoyable. Don't push too hard to get your child to learn to read or read to know. Only when there is love for reading.

If your child is showing little interest in reading, there is hope. Sometimes moms and dads have to get sneaky, but you can still turn your child into a reader, even if he is reluctant about it.

1. The Early Bedtime tricks.

One of my favorite ways to get my kids to read is something they hope they will not figure out until they have their children. Two words "Early Bedtime."

You might be wondering how an increase in sleep can help your child to spend more time reading. Well, here's the trick. Set their bedtime for 45 minutes to an hour before they need their lights out.

Here's how our bedtime routine goes. The kids brush their teeth and use the bathroom, and Then I read their stories. It was all done before their formal night. Then, I only give them an option. I say, "It's time for bed, now. Would you like lights out or to stay up and read for a bit?"

Unless they drained, they'd always choose to read awhile. I do not have to beg nor manipulate the children into reading. They think it's their idea and has grown to love their chance for a 'late' bedtime. Then, I back off. I don't try to instruct them or help them choose books. It is their time. They can choose whichever book they like and look at it however they like until I come in to kiss them goodnight and turn their lights out. Of course, if they want me to stay and listen to them read, I'm more than happy to comply. Try it. It works.

2. Summer reading incentives.

You can sign up for a summer reading program at virtually any library in the country. If your local library does not have a summer reading program, create one at home, with rewards for reading books. You can use a Monopoly (or Life) board and allow your child to move one space for each book he reads. Or, if you want to have more fun, let him roll the dice each time he reads a book and has prizes available for passing specific points.

Make sure the rewards are something very desirable. If your child values time with you more than toys, set a date to do his favorite thing. If he loves a particular toy, let him earn it. Or let him win a chance to get out of his regular chores. Take him to his favorite restaurant. Just have fun with it, and he will, too.

3. Read the book before you can see the movie.

It is a standard in our home. We won't see any movie until we've read the book. Whether my husband and I read the book to the kids or alone, each family member can see the film after reading the text. So, if your child is looking forward to seeing the following Chronicles of Narnia movie, the next Harry Potter movie, or the next Lemony Snicket movie, they'll have to read the book first.

That's three easy ways to turn your child into a reader for life.

Learning to read can be a challenging adventure for some kids. Everyone, from a child's teacher to Mom and Dad and even Grandma, seems excited and waiting for the child to learn to read. All the pressure and expectations from the adults can surely damper the excitement for the child. This loss of excitement can lead to a child who loses the desire to read. If we as parents can find ways to make reading fun and enjoyable, our children will be more willing to sit down and read a book together.

Here are a few ideas you can do to make reading fun for your child.

Popcorn Reading

It is a fun way for a child to read the words they know and pass them on, causing frustration. While reading a book together, you take a turn reading aloud. When reading the word "popcorn," it is the other person's turn to read.

Reading Buddy

Pair your reader up with an older "reading buddy" and have them read a book out loud together. We all had times when an explanation of something made more sense from one of our peers or a sibling. It allows your child to practice reading without a watchful adult eye causing possible nervousness.

Highlight Heaven

Grab an older book and a highlighter, and have your child highlight every word they can read on the page. After all the words your child knows are highlighted on the page, take a moment and have your child look and see how many terms they can read. It is quite a confidence booster.

Flashlight Reading

Your child is too tired at the end of the day; take some time and read in the darkroom. Take a flashlight with you and read the book by flashlight. Little boys especially like this one.

Secret Hideout

What child hasn't built a fort at one time or another? If you don't have a defense in your house or outside, help your child create one. It can be a blanket fort, a plywood fort outside, a treehouse, or even a simple under-bed fort. (Make sure you both can fit; being able to get out once you've gotten in is helpful too!) Bring your child's favorite reading book, get comfortable and read away.

Reading Corner

Make a "reading corner" somewhere in your home. Let your child be a part of decorating it and picking just the right spot to place it. Add some bean bags or pillows, a favorite poster on the wall, or even family pictures.

Take a break and just read to your child sometimes.

No explanation is needed here.

Picture Detective

Please have your child flip through a book, look at all the pictures, and tell you what they think will happen in the story. Please read the story and see how close they were.

Pop-up word

Pick one word your child particularly has a hard time with; every time your child reads that word, both of you stand up. It will help them remember the name because of an action associated with it. It works particularly well with kinaesthetic learners. (A child who wants to constantly move and likes to touch and feel everything.)

https://tinyurl.com/y2hx8lg4

Star of the Story

Have you ever seen a personalized storybook where your child's name is printed in the story? It is a unique way to get your reluctant reader excited about a book. Kinds of books, your child's name, and the name of their friends are printed in the storyline, making your child the star of their very own book! How motivating is that? They will have to read the book to find out what kind of adventure he/they will be going on!

Sometimes all it takes to make reading fun is imagination and a change of scenery.

The whole scenario behind the invention of toys is that they enjoy, but part of that enjoyment includes ensuring the toys are safe for your children.

There are ten simple steps that you can take to ensure that your child enjoys their toys while taking the appropriate steps to make sure they are safe.

Follow the age recommendations on the package.

This information is typically written in smaller print and a lower corner or back of the box.

If the toy contains small parts, consider your child's behavior before purchasing it.

Even if they are in the age range recommended by the manufacturer, parents must consider whether or not their child behaves maturely enough to handle the toy and its parts.

Never leave a child unattended when playing with a toy that features small parts.

Even if you step away for a minute, that may be all it would take for your child to decide to put the toy in their mouth. It can be hazardous, so provide as much supervision as possible while your child is playing with their toys, even more so if they feature any small parts. At the same time, never allow children to run with any toys with sharp or protruding points.

Never allow the child to put toys in their mouth.

If the child were to swallow any part of the toy or accessories, the result could be tragic. If you see the child putting their toys in their mouth, remove them immediately while saying "no" in a firm voice. Taking the toys away from the child is unnecessary, but they should get careful supervision.

Pay close attention to consumer safety department notices and product recalls.

This information is precious because it provides updated information about the safety of certain products, along with any defects. In the latter case, a product recall may issue to avoid injuries. Never allow a child to play with toys that have been recalled or considered to be safe.

Make sure that any drawing markers, paint, or crayons you purchase are non-toxic.

The label will indicate any such findings on every product tested and proven to be non-toxic. Look carefully at the back of the packaging in search of this seal before buying these art accessories.

With painted toys, make sure that the paint is not coming off.

It could be dangerous if the child were to put the toys in their mouth or if it were to get in their eyes, so be very mindful of chipping or peeling paint.

Make sure toys and dolls are flame-retardant.

It is critical for obvious reasons and to protect your child's safety.

Ensure that the toys are authentic products and not cheap imitations, indicating more competitive manufacturing.

When shopping for toys, always ensure you get what you pay.

Monitor the message or rating that a toy or video game is promoting.

These days, so many toys are developing unhealthy messages or ideas. It is essential to monitor the toys your child enjoys to ensure that the influences they are getting are the best for their age.

About 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by hazards in their homes each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented - by using simple child safety devices on the market today. Any safety device you buy should be sturdy enough to avoid injury to your child yet easy for you to use. It's important to follow installation instructions carefully. Also, if you have older children in the house, be sure they re-secure safety devices. Remember that no device is completely childproof; determined youngsters have to disable them.

Here are some child safety devices that can help prevent many injuries to young children.

SAFETY LATCHES and LOCKS on cabinets and drawers can help prevent children from gaining access to medicines, household cleaners, knives, and other sharp objects.

Look for safety latches and locks that adults can easily install and use but are sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children. Safety locks are not a guarantee of protection, but they can make it more difficult for children to reach dangerous substances. Even products with child-resistant packaging should be locked away, out of reach; this packaging is not childproof.

SAFETY GATES can help keep children away from stairs or rooms with hazards.

Look for safety gates that children cannot dislodge easily but that adults can open and close without difficulty. Gates that screw to the wall are more secure than pressure gates."

New safety gates that meet safety standards display a certification seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). If you have an older security gate, be sure it doesn't have a "V" large shape for a child's head and neck to fit.

DOOR KNOB COVERS and DOOR LOCKS can help keep children away from places with hazards, including swimming pools.

Be sure the doorknob cover is sturdy enough not to break but allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult in case of emergency. By restricting access to potentially hazardous rooms in the home, doorknob covers could help prevent many kinds of injuries. In swimming pools, should place the door locks high out of reach of young children. Locks should use in addition to fences and door alarms. Sliding glass doors, with locks that must be re-secured after each use, are often not an effective barrier to pools.

ANTI-SCALD DEVICES for regulating water temperature can help prevent burns.

Consider using anti-scald devices for faucets and showerheads. A plumber may need to install these. Also, if you live in your home, set the water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water.

SMOKE DETECTORS are essential safety devices for protection against fire deaths and injuries.

Check smoke detectors once a month to make sure they're working. If detectors are battery-operated, change batteries at least once a year or consider using 10-year batteries.

WINDOW GUARDS and SAFETY NETTING for balconies and decks can help prevent dangerous falls.

Check these safety devices frequently to ensure they are secure, properly installed, and maintained. There should be no more than four inches between the window guard bars. If you have window guards, be sure at least one window in each room can easily use for escape from a fire. Window screens are not effective in preventing children from falling out of windows.

CORNER and EDGE BUMPERS can be used with furniture and fireplace hearths to help prevent injuries from falls or to soften falls against sharp or rough edges.

Look for bumpers that stay securely on furniture or hearth edges.

OUTLET COVERS and OUTLET PLATES can help protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution.

Be sure the outlet protectors cannot easily be removed by children and are large enough not to choke on them.

A CARBON MONOXIDE (C0) DETECTOR can help prevent C.O. poisoning.

Consumers should install C.O. detectors near sleeping areas in their homes. Households that should use C.O. detectors include those with gas or oil heat or with attached garages.

WINDOW BLIND CORD SAFETY TASSELS on mini blinds and tension devices on vertical blinds and drapery cords can help prevent deaths and injuries from strangulation in the loops of cords.

For old mini blinds, cut the cord loop, remove the buckle, and put safety tassels on each cord. Be sure that old vertical blinds and drapery cords have tension or tie-down devices to hold the lines tight. When buying new miniblinds, verticals, and draperies, ask for safety features to prevent child strangulation.

DOOR STOPS and DOOR HOLDERS on doors and door hinges can help prevent tiny fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in doors and door hinges.

Be sure any safety device for doors is easy to use and is not likely to break into small parts, which could be a choking hazard for young children.

CORDLESS PHONES help you watch your child continuously without leaving the vicinity to answer a phone call. Cordless phones are beneficial when children are in or near water, whether it's the bathtub, the swimming pool, or the beach.

Come on, admit it. You sometimes use the television as a cheap babysitter. That's ok; we ALL do it sometimes! Ah, but it's a double-edged sword because kids who watch a lot of T.V.s have trouble keeping themselves entertained, which in the long run makes your job harder!

If you're trying to limit the T.V. viewing in your household, you might need a little inspiration. Try these TV-free activities guaranteed to keep the kids busy, at least for a little while!

1) Make paper airplanes

Warning: This one is highly addictive! My two boys love making paper airplanes. Buy them a book on the fine arts of paper airplane making, and then put your feet up and read a book.

2) Make a tower with toothpicks and peas

Go ahead- encourage them to play with their food!

3) Make homemade ice cream

Put two parts milk and cream, and one part sugar in a coffee can interfere with any flavorings you want. Put the lid on, put it in an enormous can, and pour ice around the little can. Put rock salt on the ice. Put a lid on the big can, and give it to your child to roll it back and forth for about 1/2 hour or until it turns into ice cream! (Do this one even if it's winter, I won't tell!)

4) Give them a magnet and instruct them to run it all over the house and see what they find.

And loose couch change is fair game!

5) If you have bunk beds, put blankets around the lower one and make a submarine. Make it a yellow blanket. Then sing the appropriate Beatles tune.

6) Play First Family Savings and Loan

Save your canceled checks and fake credit cards that come in the mail. Supply the kids with a calculator, pencils, a small table, and Monopoly money. This one was my favorite as a kid!

7) Build a mini log cabin with twigs

8) Have a tic-tac-toe tournament

9) Make your soda.

Here's an easy recipe: http://www.easyfunschool.com/article2052.html

10) Make a card for Grandma.

Get out the rubber stamps, art supplies, and construction paper and make a greeting card for Grandma or another loved one.

11) Bake a cake

Buy the kids an easy cake or brownie mix and let them loose in the kitchen. Tell them they can enjoy the fruits of their labors as long as they clean up all mess.

12) Make up a treasure hunt

Buy cheap dollar-store toys. Hide in your closet. Please make a list of items they must find outside. (A white rock, a feather, a red leaf, a penny, etc.) Tell them an exciting booty awaits when they bring all the items to you.

13) Make a cave inside the house.

Put old blankets over the backs of chairs or a table to make a tent. Grab a flashlight and play with them.

Parents have asked us why homework takes their child 2, 3, and even four times longer than their peers and what they can do about it. This article defines the three key issues and what parents can do about them.

Student's key issues often include:

1- Attention is a significant problem, both in class and while doing homework

2- They often have one or more vision issues – too often, these student's eyes are either: not working together; skipping words or lines when reading, or having difficulty copying off the board

3- They become tense when doing homework and often lose it

When students have trouble paying attention in class, they often must be re-taught the information at home. What makes matters worse is that the student's homework time taken 45 minutes gets stretched to 1 and ½ hours due to re-teaching, and then to over 2 hours because they cannot stay focused.

Vision issues impact their homework in several ways:

1- They have trouble copying the notes on the board correctly, and you spend time trying to understand the assignment

2- They skip words or lines when reading, further complicating life

3- When they do math problems, they do not often align their work correctly and miss minus and division signs, so they make careless errors

Students often get tense when doing homework, and battles follow. What often happens is:

- Students are too intimidated to ask questions in class, and they get stuck

- The student or parent gets angry and then.

- An argument starts, which often escalates into a battle royal

What we recommend is that parents:

- Stay calm when doing homework with your child

- If your child gets stressed, give them a one or 3-minute break

- Hydrate them before doing homework and while doing homework

- When reading, use an index card or their finger to keep them on the right line

- If attention is a significant issue, consider getting an ADHD diagnosis – if they have a learning disability or attention issues that significantly impact their academic performance, the student could qualify for an Individualized Education Plan. They could get accommodations for homework which might include:

o Getting copies of notes – either provided by the teacher or by another student

o Seating by the teacher to improve attention

o Having the teacher check to make sure the student has written the assignment correctly

o Having you sign that they completed the job and put it in a place they can find it

o An early warning system, where the teacher alerts you to issues early on

- If vision is a significant problem, see an optometrist – even if your child has some issues reading a book.

I had just completed a session with 17-year-old Julie, who suffered from severe depression. Julie believed she was a total failure and would never be able to change anything in her life. Julie also felt all her shortcomings were her fault.

Where, I ask myself, did such a young person acquire this pessimistic and fatalistic thinking?

The answer soon became apparent when I invited her parents to the session. They began discussing numerous life events and explaining them in ways their children were learning. The car, for example, got dented because you can't trust anybody these days; Mom yelled at your brother because she was in a bad mood; you can't get ahead in this world unless you know somebody, etc.

As a parent, you think style is always on display, and your children listen intently!

The Importance of Optimism

Why should you want your child to be an optimist? Because as Dr. Martin Seligman explains: "Pessimism (the opposite of confidence) is an entrenched habit of mind that has sweeping and disastrous consequences: depressed mood, resignation, underachievement, and even unexpectedly poor physical health."

Children with active thinking skills are better able to interpret failure, have a stronger sense of personal mastery, and are better able to bounce back when things go wrong in their lives.

Because parents are significant contributors to the thinking styles of their children's developing minds, adhering to the following five steps is essential to ensure healthy mental habits in your kids.

How Can Parents Help?

Step 1: Learn to think about yourself optimistically. What children see and hear indirectly from you as you lead your life and interact with others influences them much more than you teach them.

You can model optimism for your child by incorporating active mental skills into your thinking. It is not easy and does not occur overnight. But with practice, almost everyone can learn to think differently about life's events – even parents!

Step 2: Teach your child that there is a connection between how they think and feel. You can do this most easily by saying aloud how your thoughts about adversity create negative feelings in you.

For example, if you are driving your child to school and a driver cuts you off, verbalize the link between your thoughts and feelings by saying, "I wonder why I'm feeling so angry; I guess saying to myself. 'Now I'm going to be late because the guy in front of me is going so darn slow. If he wants to drive like that, it is not good to drive during rush hour. How rude.'"

Step 3: Create a game called 'thought catching.' It helps your child learn to identify the thoughts that flit across their minds when they feel worst. These ideas, although barely noticeable, significantly affect mood and behavior.

For instance, if your child received a poor grade, ask: "When you got your grade, what did you say to yourself?"

Step 4: Teach your child how to evaluate automatic thoughts. It means acknowledging that the things you say to yourself are not necessarily accurate.

For instance, after receiving a poor grade, your child may be telling himself he is a failure, he is not as bright as other kids, will never be able to succeed in school, etc. Many of these self-statements may not be accurate, but they are 'automatic' in that situation.

Step 5: Instruct your child on generating more precise explanations (to themselves) when bad things happen and use them to challenge your child's automatic but inaccurate thoughts. This process involves looking for evidence of the different side (good grades in the past, success in other life areas, etc.).

Another skill to teach your child is to help them think optimistically – that is, help them see that the unfortunate event may not be as severe or will not have the adverse consequences imagined. Few things in life are as devastating as we fear, yet we blow them up in our minds.

Parents can influence the thinking styles of their children by modeling the principles of positive thinking.

These days, moms are so busy and more stressed than ever before and need lifestyle choices that help us be happier. Pursuing a hobby may be just the ticket.

Here are a few reasons why a hobby is an excellent idea, even for a busy Mom.

Having a hobby relieves stress and tension.

Spending time with a hobby replaces negative thoughts with positive thoughts and feelings. A hobby or creative outlet can lift your spirits and help with depression.

Unlike passive activities like television viewing, a hobby provides intellectual stimulation while simultaneously relaxing you. Repetitive actions like those used in knitting are calming.

Hobbies help parents better.

We like our children to go to lessons and classes and encourage them to have hobbies. We pay for these classes and drive them to and from these classes! But we forget that we also need to learn new things and grow as people. Hobbies also connect you with other individuals who share your interests.

A hobby can help you maintain your identity as a natural person and not just as a mom. It models healthy habits and boundaries for our kids.

Hobbies provide a refreshing change from your daily routine.

If you're a stay-at-home Mom, you may be frustrated because, at the end of the day can hardly point to anything you've "done." It is because of the repetitive nature of housework and childcare.

In generations past, women pursued hobbies like quilting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and embroidery because they were enjoyable and provided tangible value to the family, providing clothing for their backs or much-needed income.

Some hobbies like tennis, gardening, or belly dancing can even provide great exercise with all its accompanying benefits. The best exercise activity combines mind and body and is enjoyable to pursue.

Why not carve out some time to pursue your hobby, Mom? Don't let a shortage of time stop you. Rearrange your schedule and put YOU back in it, and start carving out time for your favorite pastime.

Quick pop quiz! How can you accomplish the following things with the push of a button?

· Help your kids improve their reading skills?

· Grow their vocabulary?

· Help them sit quietly (willingly!)? and

· Entertain them too?

· Easy- Play audiobooks!

That's right, Mom and Dad, listening to books on tape provides all these benefits.

Did you know that for a significant part of their childhood, your kids' intellectual capacity will be greater than their reading ability? That means that they can understand the material when read aloud to them that they would not read. Interesting.

My kids love audiobooks, and I love that they love them. As a homeschooling mom of 4 kids, I read aloud a lot. Audiobooks give my voice a little break.

You can play books on tape while running errands in the car. Naptime and bedtime are also favorite times to listen to a story. (And if your kids are like mine, you wear out long before they do, so books on tape are a lifesaver for helping them nod off after you've done the bedtime story!)

Listening to audiobooks strengthens your child's ability to listen, a crucial skill for their academic achievement.

Audiobooks also let your child hear easy reading with a bit of flair; the author or professional actors read many of them.

If your child is struggling with reading or listening to audiobooks, it will be ideal if the child knows with assistance and pleasure; so important if your child is to develop a lifelong love of reading!

Audiobooks help your child learn to visualize a story by using their imagination instead of pictures (in contrast, watching television trains the brain to be lazy and rely on images).

Why not get your child on the fast track to reading success with the push of the play button too?

To get you started, here are some of my kids' favorite titles:

· Charlotte's Web (read by the author, E.B. White)

· The Jamie Lee Curtis collection (I dare you to get through "Tell me about the night I was born" without crying!)

· A New Coat for Anna

· The Maurice Sendak collection

· The B.F.G. by Roald Dahl

Have fun listening!

Children are living with curiosity. They learn many things in life, are gifted naturally with intuition and are open to everything they find.

Everything seems to be attractive to them. That's why the kids want to know about many things. It's indeed a sign of healthy development.

Parents need to help children develop their conscience, which will be an excellent means of getting spiritual experiences. Through these, they'll learn about self-esteem and moral values.

Of course, parents want children to have and be familiar with actual values in life. As parents, what can you do then?

Here are five ways you can do to enrich their conscience:

• Give suitable examples.

What you say and do daily reflects what you think about the world. If you say good stuff, your children will do the same. Children are great imitators. You need to say and do nice things anytime, anywhere.

• Listen when they talk.

Sometimes your children ask questions that sound silly to adults, like "Mom, where does the sun sleep when the night comes?" Listen to them and answer seriously, "The sun doesn't sleep. It shines in other places in the world." By looking, children will feel that they get respect from their parents.

• Show happiness.

Show and share all the joy, positive energy, and thoughts with the children. If you're happy, they're so glad too. By doing this, the children will learn that life is enjoyable.

• Introduce them to nature.

Tell them that all things that happen in the world connect and that there's a reason for it. For example, plants need water to rinse, and plants are the food source for other living creatures.

• Be flexible with your rules.

They should inform the children about what they should do. However, always take notice of their development. There will be a time when they can decide what they want to do. By being flexible with your rules, children will stay cheerful and expressive.

Those five tips are easy to carry out. Just place yourself as your children's parents and friends as well.

Again, remember that children are good imitators. Once you do or say something wrong, there's an excellent chance they will do or say the same.

Was parenting more accessible forty years ago?

As a mom in the new millennium, I dream about parenting in a world where streets are safe and parents can let their children run freely through the neighborhood, their bodies naturally challenged with the exercise of play.

Instead, today, before the slam of the car door fades and the backpack drops on the floor, the T.V. is switched on, and the last few hours of daylight disappear in a haze of video games and over-processed snack foods.

Even the concerned, well-meaning parent can often stand helpless, wondering how to compete against marketing genius and instant gratification. Exercise and carrot sticks have difficulty competing with Xboxes, SpongeBob, and potato chips.

My kids aren't obese - why should I be concerned?

Your children are healthy, right? You are parenting just fine. But in a world where walking is limited, school P.E. programs are being cut, and cars, elevators, and buses eliminate our chance to exercise naturally. We need to make a concerted effort to make physical activity part of our day and children's days.

So as parents, how can we get our kids moving?

"The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily."

The great news is exercise comes in many forms and can be fun! With creativity, you can quickly add some fun physical activity to your parenting style.

1. Lead the way

It would be best if you led by example. Kids, especially younger children, naturally follow their parents. So make sure you look after your health and prioritize physical activity.

2. Do it together

In today's overscheduled world, we need to make sure we spend quality time with our children—what better way than to be active together? Since kids can't be alone roaming the neighborhood, parents need to play with them.

3. Make it fun

Put on some music and dance. Play tag. Rollerblade. Just play. Please provide them with toys and equipment that encourage them to be active while having fun.

Bikes, scooters, hockey sticks, and baseball bats will get your kids moving and active. For preschool children, ride-on toys that get them exercising, like pedal cars, big wheels, and tricycles, are always a great parenting decision.

4. Cheer the kids on

Create positive reinforcements with encouragement and support. Help them find sports and activities that build their self-esteem. Attend their sporting events and let them know you are their biggest fan, whether they win or lose.

5. Turn it off

Of course, we need to limit the time our kids watch T.V. and play video games. But make sure you do it positively. If they are angry that you just turned off their favorite show, they might not be too excited about going out rollerblading with you.

Allow screen time during designated hours, preferably after homework is done and when the physical activity finishes, like in the evening or on Saturday morning when tired parents might need a few extra minutes of sleep.

Adding more physical activity to your family's routine will help you all feel better and get you to have more fun together. Most importantly, as you model a healthy lifestyle, you will instill lifelong habits and healthy attitudes toward exercise and physical activity in your children.

Don't let anyone sabotage your child.

If someone tries to destroy my child emotionally on purpose through jealousy or maybe for some other reason, as a parent, we have to step in and support our child. I will never leave my child unsupported emotionally and will always make them feel secure. The feeling of security is necessary for a child's development, and it needs to show in such a way that the child will not take that wrong. If my son or daughter is married, I will not allow their partners to think that they are loners and nobody cares about them; it will lead to taking advantage of them. Children can get exposed to violence by much older people; we should be in a position to protect them. The parents must emotionally support them and not fear talking to them if they experience abuse outside society. Children can believe anyone, and we should always avoid strangers talking to them.

Make kids listen to you as a parent.

Many children out there are not prepared to listen to their parents at a young age. But they will think about it and regret it after the damage happens, or maybe they are grown up. Parents should develop trust for their children from a very young age by giving them lots of love and support and telling them educational stories with examples; they will grow up and trust the parents. Teach them to have good associations, which will help their future. Making a child imagine their mother in every way is crucial for their future well-being, and even if they pretend that they are not trusting their parents, they will still follow in their parent's footsteps. When they are growing up, they will tend to look back at the sacrifices made by their parents for them and decide to make their parents feel proud of them.

Emotional Wellness

If you were unfortunate, born in a family where you didn't get emotional support and affection, you would not know how to support your child as you didn't have any experience. I was born into a family with no emotional support, and I had to learn everything to help my kids. Mother, you always think you don't want your children to go through the discomfort you have experienced in your life. So, when you genuinely love your children, anything is possible for you to provide for their well-being. I believe that there is no hard & fast rule in parenting.

Simple Ways to Build Up Your Child S Brainpower

Hundreds of years prior, birthing specialists and moms exhorted pregnant ladies to remain upbeat, listen to music associated with nature, and grasp high well-being. Presently propelled exploration in tyke advancement demonstrates that mental health in kids does not happen after birth but instead starts from the womb itself. In this way, it is vital for both guardians, particularly moms, to abstain from smoking, liquor, and substance women handle when pregnant and receive a tangible way of life.

It is simply not about nourishment and working out. It is about remaining active in consideration, keeping a cheerful temper, and uncovering the tyke in the womb to brilliant upbeat contemplations and music. guardians converse with the unborn tyke and swear that their kid is intelligent and an achiever because of this. Attempt it, and get some information about it.

Changes in Routine Help

Babies and little children, and more seasoned children react to the jolt offered by encounters in their homes and environment. Did you realize that kids' minds are invigorated by the assortment of sensations experienced daily?

In this way, you can set the wheels in motion by presenting exercises inside and outside the house. These will advance learning and intuitive encounters. Converse with the youngster as much as you can. Keep up eye contact and permit the kid to ingest your outward appearance. Enjoy each endeavor at correspondence made by the tyke, be it a hand augmented towards you, sputter, or grin. Make an affinity between you and the tyke, and you will be astonished to see that the youngster comprehends and reacts.

Something to think about

It is not only minded fortifying exercises that support mental aptitude, but the sustenance a kid eats influences its reasoning. Did you know a brain needs a lot of starches, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals for repair and capacity? Indeed, many moms observe emotional episodes and inconsistent conduct in their youngsters after utilizing chocolates or garbage sugar sustenance like confection, icing, syrups, and bundled heated items. The sugar rushes and lows brought on by particular foods can make a kid uneasy, fractious, heedless, and tired.

Hone the Intellect

The objective of the training is to instruct kids to be viable scholars — as you most likely are aware, this is the thing that prepares them to remain ahead in circumstances where arrangements find at the snap of fingers. In this way, you should concentrate on intellectual improvement and higher request consideration.

As a parent, there are many routes in which you can work towards more significant thinking and higher thinking. Innovation has made accessible a few P.C. programs, programming CDs, and DVDs that are amusing to utilize and put the youngsters in more troublesome circumstances, which they have to settle. The concentration of organizations, for example, Smart Neurons, is instructive, showing help and toys which satisfy the objective of upgrading considering, scientific capacities, and critical thinking in

Wrapping Up

Have you enjoyed reading it? Have the contents been helpful to you? We all know that parenting is the most challenging job globally, making it more problematic to care for a sick child than for a single parent. You become the winner when you become a naturally patient parent, and all that will not be wasted; the kids remember all that even when they are grown up, and it will pay you back.

Good luck!

The kids learn from their parents; first, children learn everything at home, including habits, and then they take that to school. The parents must get involved with the school, which gives the children a happy feeling with a sense of security, and in the end, they behave well and do well at school. Parents should help them understand from a young age that education is one of the essential things in life for anyone. Make them aware that everything can get easily lost in life but dropping your education at any time is challenging. Parents must realize that the child starts learning from home what is happening in the house. Here are some tips below about helping children to succeed in school.

Develop a partnership with the teacher.

Parents should have valuable contact with the teacher and work together with interest in their child's welfare. It would be best if you listened to the teachers about how you can help your child to develop the child in his studies. As a parent, you need to show the teacher your interest in your child's education, which, in return, helps them to help your child.

Meet the teacher

It would help if you could meet the teacher regularly to check your child's progress. When you do this daily, the child will become aware that meeting his teacher at a usual range will help the child become more involved with the schoolwork; it will sound like an indirect compulsion for the child.

Attend school meetings

It is usual for the school to have regular meetings with the parents to discuss the child's progress. Make sure to attend those meetings because it allows you to review the child's development and to get to know the strengths and weaknesses of the subjects that your child is studying so that you can take action to help the child.

Find out how the child is doing and let the school know your concerns.

Suppose you think that your child is going behind in work, and you have to make the school know about it and try to discuss it. If you ignore the difficulties that your child is going through, other people will not take any extra care about it. Therefore, your responsibility is to highlight it and offer your child help.

Join the parent group.

As a parent, to help your child and the other children, particularly in their interest, it will be advisable to join the parent's group with the school. By joining these groups, you will be able to know your rights, and at the same time, you will be able to raise your opinion if you are not happy with any issues.

Daily help with homework

When your child comes back from school, make it a routine for teatime, playtime and, then after all that, before the child falls asleep, set a separate to check his homework; it is like overseeing their work, but you should not do the work for them but encourage and help them to do. If you do the work for them, it will affect their progress in the end.

Tuition

Suppose you find out that your child is weak in some subjects. In that case, it is your responsibility to take early action rather than allowing it to accumulate, which will lead to the failure of your child's progress in studies. Therefore, you need to seek extra help from school or outside or friends and families.

You are preparing your child for the exams.

When your child is preparing for the exam, you need to help them with their schoolwork if you need help with them due to the lack of knowledge about their subjects or because they need help reading or writing in English. You can encourage them, appreciate their achievements, help them eliminate their fear, boost their confidence in facing the exam, and get them organized to meet the challenge.

Library

Make regular visits to the library with the child; you must sit with them and help them choose the books to read. You must get the child a library card and make your visit on a particular day and time; this should be one of your priorities in helping them to improve their reading habits.

TV and Internet

You need to allocate a particular time of the day to watch the television; if you are not doing it becomes a regular hobbit for them to watch the video. Nowadays, everyone tends to spend time on the internet; some mature students use it for their studies, and people use it for work and browsing to buy things. As far as the children are concerned, parents should keep a close watch on it and block all the unwanted sections on the internet for them. Children can make friendships on the internet that might put them in danger one day, and further, their minds will get distracted from their studies.

The above tips will help you to raise a successful child!

We all know that nobody wants to accept failures, so if you learn to accept defeat, you will not even try anything, saying that you will fail; therefore, it does not matter whether I try. Therefore, what happens if you decide to try to become successful? Therefore, take the opportunity to become successful by trying something you like.

Therefore, when we teach kids to accept failures, they could interpret that in another and may not try. Then how will we handle that and convince them to try? The parents will have to explain to their kids to try their best but not expect success; if they fail, learn to put that aside and try harder again.

Parents must ensure that their kids can cope with good and bad things from a young age. I am writing this because I have seen teenagers committing suicide. After all, they failed their exams; even the more significant adults took their life when they met a disaster in their careers.

Parents need to make their children face any challenges without fear, and if they fail at the challenge, they need to forget about it and move on. Children who grow up with that attitude will never fear facing anything. If they happen to fail in anything, parental support should be there to believe that they are loved; they are safe to go ahead and try again. In that situation, the kids will be more confident, and the curiosity to become successful will be them.

Parents should motivate their kids to do their best and never discuss results in front of them, which might hurt them and bound them to lose self-confidence.

Parents can help the kids to develop a growth mindset by saying brains can get stronger. That empowers the kids; they will keep doing what they need to do to strengthen that powerhouse in their heads. Here is one way to explain it to them.

Failure is an excellent teacher, and we should know that another opportunity has arrived. Therefore, you need to allow your kids to talk about loss; also, what they learned from it.

Tell them when they meet challenges, their hard things to learn, and anyone makes mistakes.

It is also true he remembers the information better. The harder he must work to understand something, the longer it lasts in his memory and the more deeply it is processed.

Failure is inevitable; do not shelter your kids from it but use it to help them grow.

It would help if you shifted their focus to positive aspects of failure; you could ask those questions like these.

• What did you learn from this?

• What is the plan you must overcome this next time?

Teach the Mindful Approach

Even with all the above strategies in dealing with your child's failure, failure can still be overwhelming. If you see them struggling with big emotions like sadness or anger, train them to take a mindful approach. With practice, kids can learn to respond to strong feelings about failure rather than merely reacting.

Parents must note the things I mentioned here and start to train their kids on these issues from a young age to avoid big disappointments.

Discipline Versus Punishment of kids

Some parent does not know the difference between discipline and punishment; they punish their child without realizing the implications. The sentence means yelling and hitting, which could harm the child. In addition, they are not allowing themselves to teach the child. They will realize and regret it later in their life. When you show the child, they can learn proper behavior and practice it appropriately.

Keeping up with compliance

Maybe the parents who try to punish their kids are interested in keeping up with respect, which makes the kids stop the bad behavior immediately. So by punishing the immediate action taken to prevent the bad behavior. Nevertheless, remember the child will not learn anything from that, and there is a possibility of repeating lousy behavior. However, when you teach them that explanations will remain with the kids, help them learn from it.

A kid's freedom will not leave with punishments.

Punishing children will not stop them from meeting their needs; they will attempt to fulfill their needs in other ways. If a child wants to be with someone, the parent's disapproval of the feeling of freedom will not go away by punishing the child. Punishing the child to leave the privilege will make the child find other desperate ways to achieve that. Ultimately, the kids will start to disrespect the punishment and try to accomplish it in their way. That will lead the parent to go for more severe punishment and try to gain control.

Teach self-discipline

Instead of punishing the child, we will look at how to teach self-discipline and how that works. Let's say your child has a habit of not obeying the house rules, such as having to be back home by a specific time. When the child gets home late and, if questioned by the parent, comes up with all types of excuses like I was playing with my friend and missed the time. In that case, we must suggest other methods for letting the child remember the curfew time.

Independent learning of self-discipline

The alternative way to remind your child is to set the alarm on their mobile phone or watch. Then you can start up a conversation about getting late and might get a reply saying they are old enough to stay out longer than the curfew time set by the parents. Then you must respect their view and review their curfew time. That will make them learn self-discipline independently.

Kids are with their parents only sometimes.

Another essential point to remember is that our kids are not with us all day long as they will be out most of the day; therefore, teaching them independent self-discipline will help them do better. We need to get them to practice that when they live with us to ensure that our child knows how to live safely. Therefore, everything depends on how they learn things from us that will last long for their lifetime.

Make the kids honor the rules.

We meet several situations and circumstances in our life as far as the kids are concerned but remember, every child is unique, and we use the proper method to find solutions for them. Therefore, take enough time to talk to your child and find out why they are breaking the rules set by the parents. Then help them figure out how to honor the rules and get what they want.

Harmonious home.

When you teach your child to honor the rules and get them to practice them, you will have a peaceful home because there will be no punishments or arguments. Make sure that you help your children learn self-discipline skills when they live with you; that assures them they can live independently without any problems.

Summary:

It is helpful to know the difference between punishment and discipline. The punishment implies inflicting pain, while control means teaching. Parents who use punishment miss valuable opportunities to teach their children better behaviors and help them self-discipline. Can teach Children to be responsible practices to help them get the things they want without breaking the rules.

Bonus lecture

I maintained a website for parenting and wrote many posts, and published them on that site for nearly five years. Then I started writing eBooks about parenting and wrote 12 eBooks.

Then I created two more courses for parenting:

1. How can children grow up as happy and intellectual children?

2. How to be home-schooled?

Let me talk about the first course.

You will learn about the right way to raise the child, how to be a good parent, the child needs emotional support from the parent, and how you can provide that to the child. It also tells you about the child’s happiness as it depends on the solid foundation they receive at home at a young age, besides how a parent can maintain a happy family and give educational support to the child and make the child succeed in school.

So, when you read my course, you will be motivating d and start to make many contributions to the child and make them happy.

Home-schooling

Some parents prefer to avoid sending their kids to school, and some cannot go for various reasons. So, they like to teach the kids at home; this course gives you essential information about home-schooling, such as how to set up a home school at no or minimum cost and how a parent can become an excellent teacher. I have explained the benefits of home-schooling and how parents can ensure their kids mix with other kids. The different methods of home-schooling and the parent will take care of the child’s education and make them achieve better from the home-schooling process.

These courses benefit parents who intend to give a better life to their kids.

Please click this link to access the course.

How can children grow up as happy and intellectual children?

https://bit.ly/3Hg1baD

How to be home-schooled?

https://bit.ly/3wfOCFY

My courses will help aspiring parents bring up their kids as better individuals with lots of confidence and happiness.